MCR Police Reports: 31 March-6 April

Three arrested following shooting, ear biten off in city centre attack, Wigan body named, serial flasher and Rochdale drugs raids

Here at Confidential we get a constant stream of reports, releases and updates from Greater Manchester Police. This is a small selection of the reports received so far this week, not all of them.

Some do make for depressing reading but it's worth remembering that Greater Manchester has a population of 2.6m and that recent figures show crime rates have fallen across both the region and the country.

Sunday 6 April: Three people arrested in Manchester over Liverpool shooting

Three people have been arrested in Didsbury following the shooting of a man and his son in Everton.

A man, 36, from Kirkby, and a man, 32, and woman, 26, from Didsbury, were arrested after a 51-year-old man and his 27-year-old son were shot.

Saturday 5 April: Part of ear bitten off in city centre attack

At around 3am on Saturday 29 March a man and his girlfriend were walking along Portland Street near to the Mercure Hotel when a man approached him from behind, put him in a headlock and bit part of his ear off.

The suspect is described as white, in his early 20s, around 6ft tall, medium build, with short dark hair and was wearing a red and blue puffa jacket. The suspect was in the company of two other males, one black, one asian.

Detective Sergeant, Mark Astbury of North Manchester Division, said: “This was a violent attack and we want to find the offender as soon as possible.

"The victim was taken to hospital where he had to have part of his ear re-attached"

“There are likely to have been quite a few people around at this time in the evening, maybe going home after a night out that may have seen the attack.

“We are urging anybody who may have any information or recognises the description of the offender to contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3221 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Friday 4 April: Wigan body named

A woman found dead on Monday 31 March at a house on Plane Avenue, Worsley Hall, Wigan, has been named as 44-year-old Irene Ainsworth.

A post mortem took place and the results have come back inconclusive.

A 37-year-old man and a 46-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of murder and have been bailed until 23 May 2014.

Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Two men have been arrested

Thursday 3 April: Serial flasher hunted by police

Police are hunting a man after he indecently exposed himself on 8 separate occasions.

Between January and April 2014, police believe the same man has been flashing in the Walkden and Eccles areas

Some of the victims have been as young as twelve.

The most recent took place on 2 April as a woman, eighteen, walked over Quaker Bridge on Ellesmere Road, Eccles.

The man is described as being white, around 6ft tall, of slim build, in his 30s with blonde hair and was wearing a dark fleece with black trousers.

DI Alan Clitherow said: “This is the latest in a string of similar offences committed by this man, who has previously exposed himself to girls aged between 12 and 16 on their way home from school.

“We have increased police patrols in the area to offer reassurance to the community and I would ask anyone who may have any concerns as to what has happened to speak to their local officer.

Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday 2 April: Eleven men arrested following Rochdale drug raids

At 6am on Wednesday 2 April, more than 70 officers from Rochdale launched Operation Rakanda and raided nine addresses across Rochdale and Rawtenstall, making eleven arrests.

The operation forms part of Operation Challenger, a wider strategy to tackle organised crime groups and came after months of investigation into the distribution of cocaine, crack and heroin.

Extra officers from Rochdale's Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be patrolling the area from today and the next few days to provide a visible presence and reassurance to the community.

Arshad Mohammed, 44, of Merefield Street, Rochdale, has been jailed for nearly five years for grooming and sexually assaulting three girls, two aged fourteen and one fifteen.

ArshadMohammed contacted the girls through texts and social media to meet him, when they did he bought them gifts of money, cigarettes and alcohol before taking them to a flat in Rochdale where he sexually assaulted them.

Detective Constable Laura Crossley said: “Mohammed used money and gifts to pull the wool over the girl’s eyes to gratify his own sexual needs. However, thanks to their bravery by coming forward, he was identified and brought to justice.

“This investigation was carried out by the Sunrise team, a partnership between GMP and Rochdale Council, that aims to reduce the number of vulnerable children being sexually exploited and prosecuting offenders."

Monday 31 March: Man arrested following attempted Town Hall arson

At around 3.45pm on Monday 31 March police were called to the Town Hall after reports that a man had thrown a bottle filled with accelerant outside the building.

There was a small fire but it was soon extinguished.

No injuries were sustained. A 34-year-old man has been arrested.

Monday 31 March: Two men arrested after a woman's body is found in Wigan

Police were called to a property on Plane Avenue, Worsley Hall on the morning of Monday 31 March after the body of a 44-year-old woman was found.

Two men, 37 and 46, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detective Inspector Matthew Moore said: “We have launched an investigation into the woman’s death but at this moment, are unable to say how she has died until a post mortem has been completed. We are now in the process of finding her family and telling them the tragic news.

“The investigation is at a very early stage and if anyone has any information as to what happened, I would ask you to come forward and speak to us.”

Anyone with information should phone police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police have arrested two men

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